Gangliosides and neutral glycolipids of human adrenal medulla

Glycolipids were isolated from human adrenal medulla by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Iatrobeads column chromatography. The lipid-bound sialic acid was about 234 microgram/g fresh tissue. The glanglioside fraction contained two major gangliosides which accounted for 93% of the total lipid-bound sialic acid. They were identified as GM3, N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide and GD3, N-acetylneuraminyl N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide on the basis of cochromatography with authentic standards, sugar composition analysis, and neuraminidase digestion. GM3, N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide and GD3, N-acetylneuraminyl N-acetylneuraminylgalactosylglucosylceramide occurred in a ratio of approximately 3 : 2, and the ratio seemed to be rather constant irrelevant of age and sex differences. The neutral glycolipid fraction consisted of GL1a, glucosylceramide (18%), GL1b, galactosylceramide (23%), GL2a, lactosylceramide (27%), GL3, digalactosylglucosylceramide (20%), and GL4, globoside (12%). The major fatty acids of all these glycolipids were 16 : 0, 18 : 0, 22 : 0, 24 : 0 and 24 :1.

Mitochondrial glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and its clinical significance

The m-GOT were studied in 57 patients with liver diseases, diagnosed by peritoneoscopy and biopsy. In acute hepatitis, the m-GOT rose to 100 units or there-about. But in chronic hepatitis, even in hepatitis B with sublobular necrosis, the m-GOT were low and 20--30 units. On the other hand, in alcoholic hepatitis, the m-GOT were 50--60 units which may be considered to be higher than expected for comparable their histological necrotic findings. These values were higher than OCT, which were measured at the same time. This results showed that there might be m-GOT induction by alcohol. In liver cirrhosis lower values were obtained. Generally m-GOT was liable to be lower as the lobular distortion was getting severer.

Drug-nitrite interactions: species and sex differences in the formation of dimethylnitrosamine and its effects on the hepatic enzyme activities

Aminopyrine interacted with sodium nitrite in the stomachs of rats and guinea pigs forming dimethylnitrosamine, which affected the hepatic microsomal drug metabolism and certain hepatic enzyme activities. Sex and species differences in changes in the enzyme activities were observed after single or simultaneous administration of aminopyrine and sodium nitrite. A protective effect on dimethylnitrosamine formation with ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol was observed. The in vivo formation of dimethylnitrosamine by several antibiotics and an antihistaminic drug with tertiary amino group was also examined.